Oman Night Birding

We did several nights owling and night birding while in Oman- two nights in the Al Hajar mountains looking for Omani Owl, one night doing Nightjars near Maqshin, two nights looking for Desert Owl and two nights looking for Arabian Eagle Owl and Arabian Scops Owl in the Salalah region. There was no sight or sound of the Omani Owl (there have been no reliable sightings this autumn anywhere in Oman) and despite having up to three Desert Owls singing relatively close we only managed to glimpse one but we had better luck with the other targets with great views of Arabian Eagle Owl, Egyptian Nightjars, a bonus Syke's Nightjar and an encounter with Arabian Scops Owl. We also picked up Spotted Thick-knee (calling) and Barn Owl.   

We also picked up a few mammals at night including Arabian Wolf, Sand Gazelle, Arabian Wolf and several bat species including what were presumably Egyptian Fruit Bats (large fruit bat in the Al Hajar) and several smaller and medium sized bats including one species flying round at our feet. 

Arabian Eagle Owl

Egyptian Nightjar

Arabian Wolf

Sand Gazelles at the Egyptian Nightjar site - part of an introduction project if we understand correctly

Steve had an ultra-violet light which made finding scorpions easy- they were basically everywhere in the wadis in the Al Hajar mountains with a few in the south 

I had the Lepiled out while we were in the wadis- will post seperately on the moths 

Orion and Orion nebula (centre constellation) over the wadis at night. The atmosphere in the desert at night is stunningly beautiful 

Bats over the wadis (above and below). Presumably Egyptian Fruit Bats above.